Summer BBQ: The Ultimate C&TH Guide

This August Bank Holiday weekend is set to be a scorcher – so why not plan a BBQ? 

Nothing screams summer like a big BBQ with friends on a sunny weekend. Do it the C&TH way with our ultimate guide to hosting the perfect event, complete with fabulous recipes and tips.

The C&TH Guide to a Summer BBQ

Step your barbecue game up a notch this summer! From seafood grill recipes to the best sides and salads to serve, we’ve got you covered.

Invest in a Good BBQ

If you don’t already have a grill installed in your garden, it’s time to invest in a barbecue that will stand the test of time. Avoid disposable barbecues: aside from being single-use, they often burn the ground and cannot be recycled, making them extremely un-environmentally-friendly. With such an extended period of good weather this season, you’ll get endless use out your barbecue so make sure it’s the best.

The Big Green Egg is one of the best outdoor cooking tools on the market. A ceramic barbecue and outdoor oven, it boasts numerous functions including a ‘low and slow’ cooking setting – and can even be used for pizzas! The largest one can cook up to 24 burgers, making it perfect for a party. From £625 from Borough Kitchen

However, if you’re looking to get grilling somewhere other than your backyard then the EazyBBQ is a brilliant disposable and sustainable option that’s easy to use and small enough to fit in a picnic basket. With only a match needed, it’s the ideal option for a barbecue on-the-go.

Cooking Tips

Make sure your grill is clean (for obvious reasons, and food is less likely to stick), and make sure you pre heat it before your guests arrive. A charcoal barbecue needs about 20 minutes to reach the perfect temperature, while gas ones need 10-15 minutes.

To avoid uncooked chicken and poultry (and disgruntled guests), cook it through in the oven before finishing it on the grill for the same smoky taste without the risk. Remember, too, that fresh seafood needs a lot less time to cook than meat, so bear that in mind when planning your cooking schedule. For an extra smokey taste, burn some herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage in the coals.

Make sure you’ve prepped your vegetables well in advance and prepared all your sides and salads before getting stuck into barbecuing. Not only will you be less stressed on the day, but also your guests will be able to pile their plates high ready for the sizzling-from-the-grill main act and eat immediately while it’s still hot.

Meat

Up the stakes/steaks by spending a little extra on top-quality meat from your local butcher. The Parson’s Nose has three London sites and is renowned for its lamb burgers and sausages that are ready to be popped on the BBQ and are an all-round crowd pleaser every time. Go early in the morning as they are often a sell-out, and have a proper look through their shelves for an excellent selection of dips, chutneys and preserves. Borough Market is also an excellent choice – and you can stock up on everything else there, too. These are the best food markets in London according to C&TH.

Make sure the grill is piping hot before you start to cook the meat. Season with good quality sea salt – Maldon or Cornish Sea Salt are best (try the garlic, chilli or smokey varieties for extra flavour) – and you’re good to go! Avoid using oil on the grill as if it’s hot enough, the meat won’t stick, and save the marinade for chicken and other poultry.

Buy Welsh lamb where possible – it’s particularly flavoursome because of the special herbs, plants and flowers which the sheep eat on the Welsh hills, and is extremely versatile. Try our recipe for Welsh Lamb & Feta Burgers to impress your guests.

Ingredients:

• 450g (1lb) lamb mince
• 30ml (2tbsp) fresh mint, chopped
• Black pepper
• 75g (3oz) feta, crumbled
• Guacamole

Method:

1. In a bowl mix together lamb mince, fresh mint, black pepper and feta, combine well together.
2. Shape into 6 medium sized burgers and cook under a preheated grill or BBQ for approx 12 minutes or until thoroughly cooked.
3. Serve in toasted ciabatta rolls with a dollop of pre-made guacamole, large seasonal salad and a side of olives.

Fish

ph. Steven Joyce

There’s something about fish on a barbecue that makes you forget you’re in a London suburb and transports you straight to the beaches of Cornwall… Head to your local fishmonger or seafood market and pick up the catch of the day – and some gigantic prawns!

Gregory Marchand, Chef Patron of Frenchie Covent Garden, advises: “First you need to make sure your BBQ is clean, then oil the grill, just a light coat of oil. I make sure my fish is super dry, then oil the fish, and when I put it on BBQ, I don’t touch it until it starts to caramelise. Don’t touch the fish! Just leave it on the grill. Eventually it will not stick anymore because of the caramelisation. Otherwise, you can put in on a tin foil, oil the tin foil and put the fish on top. However, it is a shame as it loses the BBQ flavour.”

This recipe from Prawn on the Lawn is failsafe but never fails to impress.

Recipe: BBQ Carabineros Prawns

Barbecuing these Mediterranean prawns is a brilliant way of adding a smoky element to these sweet-flavoured beauties. Sucking the prawn heads is mandatory! It’s one of the easiest recipes ever, but the prawns have such a beautiful natural flavour, they really don’t need much adding to them.

ph. Steven Joyce

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 12 raw carabineros prawns (jumbo shrimp)
• olive oil, for grilling
• 2 lemons, halved
• good-quality extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
• sea salt and freshly ground black
• pepper

Method:

1. When your barbecue is up to temperature, drizzle the prawns with olive oil and season generously with sea salt.
2. Lay the prawns on the barbecue, along with the lemon halves, and grill for 2 minutes, then flip the prawns over and grill for another 2 minutes. Check that the lemon halves are nicely charred.
3. Transfer to a serving plate and drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil over them and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with the charred lemon.

Prawn on the Lawn: Fish and Seafood to Share by Rick and Katie Toogood (Pavilion), available to purchase through Amazon

Veggie Options

Head to your best local market and buy whatever veg is in season: asparagus, courgettes, aubergines, corn, peppers and mushrooms are particularly tasty when barbecued – and ensure any veggie or vegan friends aren’t left out. Lots of barbecued halloumi won’t go amiss, served either on its own or with a lamb burger for extra deliciousness.

Sides and Dips

A selection of home-made dips and sides is a BBQ essential. Fresh Tsatsiki is the perfect accompaniment to grilled veg and lamb burgers, while BBQ sauce, ketchup and homemade Mayo should always be to hand. Jazzed-up Mayo varieties are also very à la mode this year, and very easy to make – garlicky aioli is a firm favourite which goes with everything (especially fish!). Experiment too with other exciting sauce, pickle and chutney varieties – Tracklements have a good selection and we are big fans of their chilli jam.

Vary your salads by serving classic green, mixed and tomato to cater to all tastes, as well as trying out new ones such as our recipes for Grilled Asparagus, Mint and Quinoa Salad ; Beetroot, Goat’s Curd, Hazelnut and Dill Salad ; and Butterbean and Spinach Pesto Salad.

Freshly-made Guacamole is also vital to your BBQ’s success. Try this recipe from plant-based chef and author of Happy Food, Bettina Campolucci-Bordi.

Recipe: Guacamole with a Sweet Twist

Ingredients:

• 2 avocados
• 1/4 peach or mango
• 1/4 of finely sliced red onion
• 1/2 grated garlic
• 1/2 chilli
• 2 tbs. of lemon juice
• Pinch of salt (Himalayan)
• Pinch of pepper
• Toppings: whatever takes your fancy – nuts, seeds, pomegranate and herbs all go well

Method:

1. I like my guacamole authentic and not silky smooth, therefore I scoop out my avocados into a bowl and smash them with a fork, but feel free to go as smooth as you like. 
2. Chop the chilli, red onion, peach/mango finely and fold into your mashed avocado. Then add your grated garlic, lemon juice and salt and pepper. 
3. Give it a good mix and serve straight away or refrigerate until later. 

Drinks

Drinks, and plenty of them, sure do a good party make – Aperol Spritz, Pimm’s and ice-cold beers are perfect for when guests are arriving.

Happy Barbecuing, one and all!

Best Outdoor Drinking Spots in London

The post Summer BBQ: The Ultimate C&TH Guide appeared first on What's On? By C&TH.

Sofa giá rẻ
https://sofagiarehcm.hatenablog.com
0975488488
981 Huỳnh Tấn Phát, P. Phú Thuận, Quận 7, TP Hồ Chí Minh
Sofa giá rẻ